Middleton’s four-match winning run came to an end as mid-table Royton claimed a 45-run victory over the Moonrakers.

Royton won the toss and made 178-8 from their 50 overs before bowling second-placed Middleton out for 133.

Home captain Alan Durose elected to bat on a glorious day at the Paddock although Middleton made an early breakthrough with professional Michael Smith taking a superb catch at second slip off

Richard Fitton’s bowling to dismiss Ryan Carruthers without score. That brought Royton professional Luke Procter to the crease with Liam Mason and the score reached 48 when Dale Highton bowled Mason for six.

Just seven runs were added before Danny Royle had Royton’s overseas amateur Chris Hutchinson (five) caught behind by Scott Stanworth.

Durose and Procter took the score to 89 when Durose (13) was out to a tremendous catch low down by Ste Davey for the second time in a week.

Liam Brown helped Procter put together what proved to be a match- winning stand of 64 before Royle had Brown (19) caught by Fitton to pick up his third wicket.

Highton bowled Andy Morris for a duck and 15 runs later, Highton picked up the prize wicket of Procter, who scored a superb 107 off 149 balls. Grant Jones took a well-judged catch on the boundary edge for Highton to finish with figures of 3-61 off 25 overs, while Royle had 3-97.

Scott Stanworth and Davey opened Middleton’s reply and looked in good shape until the score reached 27, when Stanworth was caught by Hutchinson off Matthew Smith for 16.

Four runs later, Davey (6) followed his fellow opener back to the shed after being bowled by Hutchinson, and another 13 runs were added before Hutchinson had Smith (11) lbw.

And any glimmer of hope Middleton still had was extinguished when they lost three more wickets for just 20 more runs.

George Walker (four) was stumped by Gareth Lees off Durose, Martin Roberts (three) was bowled by Hutchinson and Grant Jones (20) was caught to a diving catch by sub fielder Nick Maxwell off Durose.

Danny Royle (11) was next to go with the score on 84 as he was bowled by Hutchinson, who finished with 4-55.

Reece Jones and Fitton complied Middleton’s highest stand of 37 before Jones (17) was caught and bowled by Durose, who seven runs later had Highton stumped by Lees for a duck.

And Middleton were just one run away from a bonus point when in the 43rd over, Fitton holed out to Mason on the boundary for a fine 35 off just 28 balls.

That gave winning captain Durose figures of 5-44 off 17.2 overs as Royton took the five points, avenging their narrow defeat by Middleton earlier in the month.

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